Starship Asterisk*

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I love it when regular scientists decide to weigh in on a popular controversy. Recently scientists published a peer-reviewed paper in which they survey experts in atmospheric chemistry and atmospheric deposition over the nature of contrails and the claims that they are due to a secret large-scale atmospheric spraying program (SLAP), more commonly known as chemtrails. ...

The most remarkable thing about this paper, in my opinion, is that they open by explicitly making the case for why scientists should be addressing such issues. They make a good case, citing evidence that doing so actually affects public opinion. Further, seemingly benign conspiracy beliefs like this one are “gateway” beliefs to other, perhaps more pernicious, conspiracies. Finally, fake controversies take attention away from more pressing issues, like pollution and climate change, for example. ...

Science should not be an ivory-tower academic pursuit. It very much should be embedded deeply into society. It exists not only to advance human knowledge, but to guide human policy and to help society. It cannot expect widespread support otherwise. ...

• Environmental Research Letters 11(8):084011 (Aug 2016) DOI: 10.1088/1748-9326/11/8/084011